The next UEFA Champions League final is rapidly approaching. While it may not be the anticipated showdown between Real Madrid and Kylian Mbappe’s Paris Saint-Germain, the Spanish powerhouse will be present at Wembley Stadium in an attempt to secure their 15th trophy in this competition.
Borussia Dortmund surprised the European soccer community by outperforming the French superstar and the reigning Ligue 1 champions in this year’s group stage and eliminating them in the semifinals, resulting in the final matchup for this year. The 2024 Champions League final will feature Real Madrid, which has won the tournament 14 times and finished as runners-up three times, against Borussia Dortmund, who’s won the tournament once and finished as runners-up once.
As we delve into this analysis, we will meticulously evaluate how the two teams compare in attack, midfield, and at the back, providing you with a comprehensive understanding in preparation for the biggest domestic cup soccer game of the year!
2024 UCL FINAL​
- Date: Saturday, June 1
- Kick-Off: 03:00 PM ET
- Stadium: Wembley Stadium, London, UK
- Where to Watch: CBS or Paramount+
| SPORTSBOOK | BORUSSIA DORTMUND | DRAW | REAL MADRID |
|---|---|---|---|
| CAESARS SPORTSBOOK | +425 | +300 | -160 |
| BET365 | +400 | +333 | -167 |
| BETRIVERS | +400 | +325 | -177 |
| BETMGM | +400 | +320 | -160 |
| FANDUEL | +440 | +320 | -165 |
| DRAFTKINGS | +450 | +320 | -180 |
From the Dugout: Terzic vs. Ancelotti
Real Madrid head coach Carlo Ancelotti is one of the sport’s most successful masterminds. Better known as Don Carlo, he became the first manager to win league titles in the top five European divisions. To say Los Blancos own a managerial advantage over Dortmund would be an understatement, as the leader of the German side, Edin Terzic, will be up against a legend.
With four UCL wins in total (twice with AC Milan and twice with Real), the less experienced and less successful Terzic will need to dig deep and deliver another perfect defensive showing to match Don Carlo’s tactical greatness.
At the Back: Real Madrid vs. Borussia Dortmund
Spoiler alert: a defensive structure is where Dortmund’s advantage over Real starts and ends. But as the old saying goes, ‘defense wins championships.’
Let’s be honest: while they’ve lifted yet another La Liga title, and they’ll enter the UCL final as the betting favorites, Real Madrid hasn’t been half as prolific at the back as they have been upfront.
Real’s best defense has been their offense for the most part this term. Of course, the likes of Mendy, Rudiger, and Nacho aren’t names we overlook in a defensive structure, but consistency has been absent overall.
In contrast, Dortmund’s backline, led by Mats Hummels, was a key factor in their reaching the UCL final in the first place. Hummels is arguably the most in-form defender in the world right now, and his performances only boost his fellow defensive brutes, such as Julian Ryerson and Nico Schlotterbeck.
Midfield Supremacy: Real Madrid vs. Borussia Dortmund
Jude Bellingham, Toni Kroos, Luka Modric, Fede Valverde and the list goes on. Ancelotti has options in midfield, and half of those players can push forward and become a serious danger. The fluidity and diversity of Real’s midfield stand out, and even though injury doubts are resting on Aurelien Tchouameni, they still have supporting acts that outperform their opponents.
Is Dortmund completely lost in midfield? Certainly not! Take Julian Brandt, for example. He’s arguably in the best form of his career and has been working excellently going forward alongside the more defensive-minded Marcel Sabitzer and Emre Can.
That said, and in conclusion, while BVB isn’t lost in the center of the pitch, Los Blancos take the lead in midfield both in performance and star power.
Final Third Advantage: Real vs. Dortmund
The meat of the bone, the moment most fans care about… the strike force!
Again, much like the head coach and midfield situation, arguing against Real Madrid being the dominant team in this regard is difficult. Sure, Dortmund’s Niclas Fullkrug was the difference-maker during the PSG game, and Jadon Sancho has found the form we expect post-Man Utd blues, but the quality doesn’t match that of Los Blancos.
When Mbappe arrives at the Bernabeu next term, we could be looking at an unstoppable force. But even still, do they actually need him? Vinicius Junior is a superstar. Bellingham has been shifting from midfield to forward positions to deliver excellent assists and goals, and that’s without mentioning Rodrygo, Joselu, Arda Guler and Brahim Diaz.
The quality of attack at Real Madrid is elite, and it’ll likely be enough to prevent Dortmund’s defense from replicating their past successes.
